Eye Doctor: Glasses

Eyeglasses them come in array of shapes, colors and look to fit the taste of the wearer. The look of your glasses is important, but the need to have glasses specifically suiting to your individual needs is even more important. An eye doctor will perform an eye exam, during which he or she will establish what type of lenses you need to correct any vision problems you may have. Receiving treatment and eye doctor glasses in the proper way can remove potential long term issues.

Power of an Opthalmologist

An optometrist can provide eye examinations and eyeglasses. But the level of specialization an ophthalmologists has over an optometrist can be the difference between finding glasses, and finding the right eyeglasses.

Ophthalmologists, are eye surgeons who are either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). They can perform all the same tests as an optometrist and in addition, they are a fully qualified medical doctor and surgeon. The practice of Dr. Barry Belgorod is in the specialized field of medicine that specifically concerns health problems of visual pathways. Typical operations performed by ophthalmologists deal mainly with the eye, and eyelids.

When eye glasses are prescribed there are two main factors: shape and power.

The shape of a lens determines the type of correction.

• Concave, or minus, spherical lenses are thicker at the sides than in the middle to correct nearsightedness (myopia).
• Convex, or plus, lenses are thicker in the middle than at the sides to correct farsightedness (hyperopia) or presbyopia.
• Cylindrical (toric) lenses are curved more in one direction than another to make up for irregularities in the cornea that cause astigmatism.
• Convex lenses or bifocals refocus the image on the retina when people with presbyopia lose the ability to focus on close objects around age 40.

The power of a lens determines the amount of correction. The power is determined in a machine called a diopters. The higher the number of diopters, the more vision correction the lens provides.

Eyeglasses That Fit Your Need

If you have been wearing the same prescribed glasses for daily activities, reading, sports and all other areas you may be missing out of the full possibilities glasses can do.

Different Eyeglasses for Different Activities

Some activities may call for wearing special eyeglasses. For example:

Computer work. Especially as you begin to age, focusing on a set distanced for extended periods of time can cause immense strain on the eyes. To offset this issue Dr Belgorod is prescribing either:

• A different prescription for a person who already wears eyeglasses
• A prescription for eyeglasses for someone who doesn’t otherwise wear them

Extended time looking at a screen can be associated to dry eyes, Dr. Belgorod will conduct examinations to determine whether you should be treating for dry eye syndrome as well.

Driving. Eyeglasses for driving may be:

• Special “driving sunglasses” with polarized (partially light-blocking) lenses
• Prescription eyeglasses with both your lens prescription for distance vision and an anti-reflective coating

Reading. Reading glasses are a good choice for people with presbyopia. This eye condition develops with aging — usually in your 40s. Around this age you may start to notice that you can’t get close enough to read what’s in front of you anymore.

The cheap, one size fits all reading glasses that can be purchased over the counter are very dangerous when used as a simple solution. Not only will they not be treating the cause, they can be causing additional eye and headache problems.

Eyeglasses Point of Note! Never buy nonprescription reading glasses as a substitute for seeing your eye doctor. Regular eye exams check more than your vision. They also check the ongoing health of your eyes.

Sports. It is estimated that close to 95% of sports related injuries could have been prevented if proper eyewear was used. These include:

• Sports goggles with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses, commonly used for playing basketball, baseball/softball (on the field), field hockey, women’s lacrosse, racquet sports, and soccer
• Polycarbonate shields (or wire face guards), used, for example, in baseball/softball (batting) and football

Eyeglasses Point of Note! Don’t assume your eye glasses are suited for all different scenarios. “Regular” eyeglasses don’t meet sports eyewear’s higher safety standards and neither do contact lenses or safety eyewear used in industry. Speak with Dr. Belgorod to determine your sports eyewear needs.

At work. Eye injuries can happen at any workplace. Industries where they are most common include:

• Agriculture
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Mining

Government standards require employers to evaluate the workplace for possible eye hazards and provide equipment — including appropriate protective eyewear — and surroundings to ensure that any such hazards are minimized or eliminated.

To meet the government standards, all protective eyewear must have “Z87″ or “Z87+” (the “+” indicates safety eyewear with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses) marked on the frame and sometimes on the lens as well.

All safety eyewear should be comfortable to wear as well as properly fitted. Types of safety eyewear may include:

• Goggles, which are more impact resistant than safety glasses
• Safety glasses with side protection/shields
• Face shields, including welding helmets
• Full-face respirators incorporating face shields

At home. Protective eyewear can help prevent eye injury from many hazards around the house. These include:

• Household chemicals
• Workshop activities
• Gardening and lawn work
• Car repair or maintenance tasks

In any situation where you injure your eye(s), get medical attention immediately.

How Do Eyeglasses Sharpen Vision?

When you have a vision problem the eyes cannot properly focus on light in the proper manner. Eyeglass lenses change the direction of light entering the eyes so that it focuses properly on a special part of the back of the eye known as the retina.

How Often Do You Need a New Prescription for Eyeglasses?

If you vision ever changes, speak with an eye doctor immediately. Besides monitoring your vision, it is most important to maintain receiving eye examinations on a standard basis. This is especially important since your eye doctor also checks for eye diseases and disorders.

The Basics of Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses may be prescribed with lenses providing:

One vision correction for all distances (unifocal)
Correction for both near and distant vision (multifocal: bifocals, trifocals, progressive, or no-line lenses)
Ultraviolet (UV) light protection — a lens coating to block the sun’s damaging and invisible UV rays
Antireflective coating to lessen light reflection off your glasses, reducing daytime glare and the nighttime “starburst” effect around lights
You may want to ask your eye doctor about other lens enhancements, such as:

• Photochromatic lenses, which darken in situations where you’d otherwise wear sunglasses and act as “regular” eyeglasses in normal (usually indoor) light
• Scratch protection (recommended for plastic lenses)
• Tints — typically cosmetic but also useful for people whose eyes are sensitive to light

Eyeglass frame styles change with fashion. Frames may be made from:

• Plastic
• Plain metal
• A combination of plastic and metal
• “Specialty” metals such as titanium and carbon graphite, both highly damage resistant

Eyeglass Point of Note! New eyeglasses do not need to be worn in. They shouldn’t rub uncomfortably against your ears or nose, fall off easily, or otherwise not feel “right.” Of course, allow a reasonable amount of time for getting used to them. If a problem remains for an extended period of time, speak with your eye doctor.

To receive the personalized service and care your eyes deserve contact the concierge eye care specialist, Dr. Barry Belgorod. Call 212-753-2020.